International Politics in the 20th Century
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| POLI2049 | Politics and International Relations | 2 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- POLI2049
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The module examines major events and themes in twentieth-century international politics. The course is taught from the disciplinary standpoint of International Relations rather than that of International History. Various theoretical perspectives and debates are, therefore, brought to bear on explaining and understanding the events of the last century.
Target Students
Available to Year 2 UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to Year 2 UG students on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics plan, incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations, and Ningbo International Studies students.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: 1,200-word review
- 70% Coursework 2: 2,800-word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
•The module will illustrate for students some concrete applications of some of the theoretical approaches to global politics which they have encountered elsewhere and supply critical historical background for comprehending the structure of contemporary international society.•To familiarise students with some of the main events of twentieth-century international politics as it played out in different regions of the globe, so that they should understand the nature of stability and change in twentieth-century international relations.•To establish competence in a variety of theoretical approaches to the analysis of world affairs, understanding the reasons for applying particular approaches.Learning Outcomes
(A) Knowledge and Understanding
- Students should be aware of some of the main debates and controversies concerning key issues and themes in twentieth century international history.
- They should be aware of the rival perspectives that can be brought to bear on the issues and themes addressed and of the strengths and weaknesses of these standpoints.
(B) Intellectual Skills
- Students will learn how theories and concepts can be put to use profitably in the analysis of real-world processes and events.
- They will learn how to engage with historical sources.
- They will learn how to synthesise and interrogate evidence and arguments presented in the secondary literature in developing their own arguments.
- They will learn how forensically to analyse and appraise a long text.
- They will learn how to reflect on the present by means of thinking about the past.
(C) Professional and Practical Skills
- Students will improve their evidence gathering, research and evaluation skills.
- They will improve their capacities for making arguments in oral and written form and develop their capacities for independent and teamwork.
(D) Transferable (key) Skills
- Students will learn how to deal with online open-source archival material.
- They will improve their skills with respect to skimming and scanning e-books.
- They will produce professional documents in Word. Meeting deadlines critical analysis in spoken and written form IT skills (particularly Word and PowerPoint).